Board Game and Method for Use

ABSTRACT

A board game incorporating bottle flip action, in which players attempt to flip a partially filled water bottle into the air so that it lands on its bottom in a designated target area on a game board, or in accordance with the play outlined on a game “challenge” card. Players earn points and move their playing pieces along a scoreboard by successfully completing individual challenges, challenges with an opposing player, group challenges with all players, or creating their own challenge.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/421,451, filed Nov. 14, 2016. The foregoing application is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to games and entertainment, and more particularly to an improved board game and method for its use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The board game and method for its use of the present invention provides a board game incorporating bottle flip action, in which players attempt to flip a partially filled water bottle into the air so that it lands on its bottom in a designated target area on a game board, or in accordance with the play outlined on a game “challenge” card. Players earn points and move their playing pieces along a scoreboard by successfully completing individual challenges, challenges with an opposing player (“face off” challenges), group challenges with all players, or creating their own challenge.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved board game incorporating bottle flip action.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved board game in which players attempt to flip a partially filled water bottle into the air so that it lands on its bottom in a designated target area on a game board.

A further object or feature of the present invention is a new and improved board game in which players earn points and move their playing pieces along a scoreboard by successfully completing challenges.

Other novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. The invention resides not in any one of these features taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

There has thus been broadly outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of this application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Certain terminology and derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience in reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” would refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similarly, words such as “inward” and “outward” would refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. References in the singular tense include the plural, and vice versa, unless otherwise noted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the components of a board game of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view of the types of game “challenge” cards that may be used during game play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated therein a new and improved board game and method for its use. FIG. 1 is a view of the components of the board game, including partially filled water bottle 10, game board 12 with one or a plurality of designated target areas 14, scoreboard 16 with a plurality of scoring positions 17 marked thereon, playing pieces 18, and game “challenge” cards 20. Players attempt to flip the partially filled water bottle 10 into the air so that it lands on its bottom in one of the designated target areas 14 on the game board 12, or in accordance with the play outlined on a game “challenge” card 20. Players earn points and move their playing pieces 18 along the scoreboard 16 by successfully completing individual challenges, challenges with an opposing player (“face off” challenges), group challenges with all players, or creating their own challenge, all as described below.

Rules for the inventive board game may include, but are not limited to, some or all of the following:

Object of the Game

To be the first player to move your bottle cap playing piece along the scoreboard to reach the top of the bottle image.

Setting Up the Game

Fill the enclosed starter bottle (or a bottle of your choice) ⅓ full or water. Use ONLY water. Tightly secure the cap. Place the game board on a flat surface (e.g., a table or the floor). Place the smaller scoreboard away from the game board where it will not be disturbed by the bottle flipping. Shuffle the game cards and place them face down near the scoreboard. Each player chooses a colored bottle cap playing piece and places it below the scoreboard.

Playing the Game

The youngest player goes first, then play moves clockwise.

Step 1: Land a target flip. Players take turns attempting to flip and land the bottle inside the target on the game board. A valid flip must include one full bottle rotation and land upright. Play proceeds clockwise until a player lands a bottle flip within the target. The bottle must land COMPLETELY INSIDE the target. Where the bottle lands determines how much the challenge is worth (1 or 2 spaces).

Step 2: Play or pass. When you land a bottle flip within the target, you have won the opportunity to PLAY or PASS a challenge card to a player of your choosing. You must decide whether to play or pass the challenge card BEFORE drawing the card. Consider carefully, because this is where some strategy (and a bit of luck) will come into play! If you play a card and succeed, you move ahead. If you play a card and fail, you do not move. If you pass a card and the other player succeeds, the other player moves ahead. If you pass a card and the other player fails, you move ahead.

Step 3: Card Challenge. The player drawing the card (“the Cardholder”) reads the card aloud. The challenge on the card is attempted by the card holder (or group of players as instructed on the card). Challenge winner(s) move their game piece(s). After the challenge, players begin attempting target flips again, resuming clockwise from the player who landed the target flip that initiated a challenge. Challenge cards may include: Extreme Challenge: This is an individual, more difficult challenge. The card will state how many attempts the player is given.

Board Challenge: This is an individual challenge, requiring the player to refer to the board to see how many bottle flip attempts must be landed.

Face Off: the player chooses someone to “face off” against. Taking turns, the player to complete the challenge first wins. If five rounds pass with no player being successful, the round is over and no player earns points.

All Out Flip Out: Everyone plays according to the directions on the card. Some challenges may have multiple winners, while other challenges will have only one winner.

Create Your Own Challenge: The player creates their own challenge. The player states very specifically what the challenge is and number of attempts. All players attempt the challenge. Each player who is successful moves ahead.

Luck of the Draw: Luck cards instruct players to move their game pieces in a certain way along the scorecard.

Note: Unless the card specifically states where the bottle must land (for example, on the game board or on the table), it is up to the flipper as to where to attempt to land the bottle.

Winning the Game

The first player to reach the top of the bottle on the scorecard wins. In the event of a tie, all tied players attempt the most bottle flips in a row. The player with the most successful flips is the winner.

FIG. 2 is a view of the types of game “Challenge” cards that may be used during game play. Individual challenge cards may include Extreme Challenge cards 20 a (e.g., “5 attempts to land a double flip”) and Board Challenge cards 20 b (e.g., “Complete ______ out of 5 bottle flips”, where the number of attempts is defined by reference to the game board), and refer to challenges to be undertaken by the individual player. Opposing player challenge cards 20 c (“Face Off” challenges, e.g. “Flip and land a bottle without bending your elbows”) refer to challenges to be undertaken by two players. Group challenge cards may include “All Out Flip Out” cards 20 d for card-defined challenges to be undertaken by all players (e.g., “Flip a bottle behind your back and land it”). Create Your Own Challenge cards 20 e refer to challenges self-defined by one player, wherein all players may then be required to attempt the challenge. Finally, Luck of the Draw cards 20 f instruct players to move their game pieces in a certain way along the scorecard (e.g., “Your bottle spilled, move back two spaces”). All of the above card types may of course designate bottle flips of any number or degree of difficulty.

Accordingly, the board game of the present invention may be characterized as a board game including a partially filled water bottle; a game board including at least one designated target area; a scoreboard with a plurality of scoring positions marked thereon; and a plurality of game cards bearing a description of a bottle flip challenge, wherein players initiate play by attempting to flip the partially filled water bottle into the air so that it lands on its bottom into the at least one designated target area on the game board.

The board game may be further characterized as wherein upon successfully flipping the partially filled water bottle into the at least one designated target area, a player must either select a game card and undertake the bottle flip challenge described thereon, or direct another player to select a game card and undertake the bottle flip challenge described thereon.

The board game may be further characterized as including a plurality of playing pieces, wherein players move their playing piece along the scoring positions on the scorecard in accordance with successful completion of a bottle flip challenge described on a game card.

The board game may be further characterized as wherein at least some of the game cards bear a description of an individual bottle flip challenge, or bear a description of a bottle flip challenge with another player, or bear a description of a group bottle flip challenge with all players, or direct a player to create their own custom bottle flip challenge.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed as invention is:
 1. A board game comprising: a partially filled water bottle; a game board including at least one designated target area; a scoreboard with a plurality of scoring positions marked thereon; and a plurality of game cards bearing a description of a bottle flip challenge, wherein players initiate play by attempting to flip said partially filled water bottle into the air so that it lands on its bottom into said at least one designated target area on said game board.
 2. The board game of claim 1 wherein upon successfully flipping said partially filled water bottle into said at least one designated target area, a player must either select a game card and undertake the bottle flip challenge described thereon, or direct another player to select a game card and undertake the bottle flip challenge described thereon.
 3. The board game of claim 1 further including a plurality of playing pieces, wherein players move their playing piece along said scoring positions on said scorecard in accordance with successful completion of a bottle flip challenge described on a game card.
 4. The board game of claim 1 wherein at least some of said game cards bear a description of an individual bottle flip challenge.
 5. The board game of claim 1 wherein at least some of said game cards bear a description of a bottle flip challenge with another player.
 6. The board game of claim 1 wherein at least some of said game cards bear a description of a group bottle flip challenge with all players.
 7. The board game of claim 1 wherein at least some of said game cards direct a player to create their own custom bottle flip challenge. 